Auxiliary car-step.



W. O. DALY.

AUXILIARYGAR STEP. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Hm PHNH U ATTORNEYS WIN/8858 Q 0 W. O. DALY.

AUXILIARY GAR STEP. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910. v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR fiizzm am Arm/wa s W. 0. DALY. AUXILIARY GAR STEP.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1909. 952,442, Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

. 27 WITNESSES l/VI/EMOR WJLLW 0. My

A TTOR/VE Y8 To all whom it may concern:

UNITED srnrns WILLIAM OLIVER DAILY,

AENT enrich.

OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

AUXILIARY CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

Application filed April 20, 1909. Serial No. 490,996.

, constructions and combinations of parts here .inafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a step of the kind specified which, when not inuse, will be folded neatly and inconspicuously against the bottom of the fixed steps and which maybe easily moved into operative position from the platform of the car.

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof: Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a car provided with the'improve- .ment, showing the step in operative position; Fig. 2 is an end view, showing the step folded; Fig. 3 is'a transverse section of a portion of the car platform, showing the operating mechanism; Fig. 4 is a partial transverse section of the fixed steps, showing a detail of the folding mechanism; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the locking mechanism; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Y and Fig. 7 is a-perspective view of one of the step supporting brackets.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings comprises a step 1, preferably of wood, and resting at each end upon a plurality of perforated ears 2 extending from the lower edge of the body portion of a bracket'3, which body portion is provided at approximately its center with a lug 4 extending outwardly and provided with an inclined transverse slot 5, and the ears traversed by bolts or screws for securing the ears to the step. A bar 8 has one of'its ends secured in the slot by means of a bolt or lag screw 9, and the bar is slidable in bearings 10 secured to the side plates 11 of the usual car steps, the upper end of the plate having an angular portion 12 for engaging the uppermost bearing to limit the downward movement of the bar with respect to the side and that the said step corresponds in shape and'fdimensions-with the other steps, and is finished in like manner. V,

A plate 13 is secured transversely of the auxiliary step by any suitable means, as, for instance, bolts 13 and the inner end of the plate'projects beyond the edge of the step and is provided with spaced ears 14. A rod 15 has one of its ends pivoted between the ears, and the other end is provided with spaced cars 16, between which is pivoted the 1 outer end of a rigid arm 17, extending from the center of a'rock shaft 18, journaled in arms 19, connected to the side plates 11. Each of the arms 19 is secured to the adjacent plate by screws 20 and one of the arms is formed in two sections, one 20 of which is of greater thickness than the other and is longitudinally recessed, as at 21, to receive the other, the sections being secured together by screws 22. The outer section 20*is provided with a split bearing 23, Whose sections are secured together by bolts 24.

The purpose of the above construction is to permit the insertion and removal of the rock shaft, the sections of the split bearing beingloosened to permit the introduction or removal of the shaft, and the end of the shaft adjacent to the car body 25 is threaded and engaged by a nut 26, while the-opposite end is provided with an integral arm or crank 27. The arm 27 is provided with spaced ears 28, between which is pivoted one end of a link 29, [the link extending upwardly through an opening 30 in the platform 31 of the car, and being provided at its upper end" with a pair of spaced ears'32, for a purpose to be presently described. I

A lever 33 is pivoted to an ear 34 on abracket 35, secured to the car body, as at 36, the lever having spaced cars 37, between which is received the ear 33, and adjacent to the point of pivotal connection the lever is provided with-an angular portion 38, which is received between theears 32 of the link and connected therewith by a rivet or bolt 39. The angular portion 38 is formed, in the present instance, by bending the lever at an angle to the body portion, and return bending it at an angle to the first. bend, and the free end of-the lever is provided with a grip 40 for convenience in manipulating the same. I I

It will be evident from the description that. when the free end of the lever is elevated the rock shaft will be oscillated to in closed position, the said means being arswing the arm 17, and through the connection of the rod '15 therewith the auxiliary step will be pushed downwardly and outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1, the step being guided andlimited in its move ment by the bar 8. i p

A means is provided for locking the -step ranged upon the platform 31 and engaging the link 29. The said means consists of a plate 41, shown in Figs- 3, 5 and 6 in detail, secured to the platform by screws 42,and the sides of the plate are each provided with a flange 43 overlying the plate. A-pair' of levers 44 and 45 is pivoted on the plate, as at 46, the lever 45 being pivoted directly there to by itsinner end, while the lever 44 is provided with a lateral lug engaged by thepivot 46; The lever 44 extends beyond the plate at both ends, and the one end 47 'is bent at an angle to the' lever proper and is provided with a cross head 48. The. oppositeend of the lever is provided with a recessed jaw '49 for receiving the link, and the free end of the lever 45 is provided with a similar jaw .50, coiiperating with the jaw 49. A spring 51 is connected by one end with the lever 44 and by the other with a pi1152 on the plate,

and acts to retain the. jaws clamped on the link. By moving the end 47 of the lever 44 into the position-shown in doted lines in Fig.

. 5, the jaws are released from the link, which a and a strap 54 is'arranged'across the plate,

the ends of the strap being bent at an anglethereto for engaging the outer edges of the is then free to move longitudinally. The

lever is recessed, as at 53, in order that it may move under the overlying flange,

sides of the plate. The link 29 is provided with an integral collar 55 which engages the lower faces of the jaws when they are closed, and the engagement of the said parts, rather than the grinning action of the jaws, is rein full lines in Fig. 1, thus pushing the step into the position shown in the latter figure. After the step has served its purpose the leveris swung in the reverse direction, which elevates the step into the position shown in Fig. 2, the step fitting neatly against the lowest fixed step, so that-it will hardly be noticeable. The side plates 11 of the fixedsteps are extended below the lowest fixed step,- as at 56, and are recessed, asat 57 to receive the'lugs 4. the auxillary step being received between the said ends when in elevated' position.

- It will be observed from an inspection of the fixed steps thereof, of an auxiliary step "Fig. 3 that the lower face of the collar 55 is beveled, as at,58, while the u perface is flat, so that the beveled face-wil spread thelevers when the linkv moves downwardly. The jaws permit the linkto move freely in a downward direction, but prevent its upward movement.

It will be evident from the description that the auxiliary step is simple in construction and not liable to get out of order easily, since it is devoid of complicated parts, and. that it may be applied to existing cars without any extensive changes in the 'cars being necessary.

I claim:

i 1. The combination with the car body and the fixedsteps thereof, of an auxiliary step below the fixed steps, a, bar seeured'to each. end of the said step, bearin s-on the side plates of the fixed steps in whlch the bars are slidable, said bars having angular upper ends for limitin their" movement in the bearings, a'rock s aft journaled between the side plates and provided at one end with a crank and at its center with a rigid arm, a

link connecting the arm with the auxiliary step, a link pivoted to the crank and slidable through the platform of the car, a leverpivoted on the car and connected with the upper end of the link, said link having an inte ral collar, whose upper face is fiat and the lower face beveled, and means throu h which the link is slidable for engagement by the collar to prevent the upward movement thereof, said means comprising a plate secured to the platform, a pair of leverspivoted thereto and movable toward and from each other, each of said levers having at one end a recessed jaw for. receiving the link, and a spring acting to move the jaws toward each other, once said levers having its opposite end extended, for the purpose set forth.

' 2. The combination with'the car body and below the fixed steps, a bar secured to each end of the said step, beari-n s on the side plates of the fixed steps in which the bars are slidable, said bars having angular upper ends for limiting their movementin the bearings, a rock shaft journaled'between' the side plates, and provided at one end with a crank and at its center with a rigid arm, a] link connecting the arm with the auxiliary step, a link pivoted to the crank and slidable through the platform of the car, a lever pivotedon the car and connected with the upper end of the link, said link having an integral collar, whose-upperface is fiat and the lower face beveled, and means through 125 which the link is slidable for engagement by the collar to prevent the upward movement thereof, said means comprisin a pair of levers, each havin "at one end a recessed iaw for receiving t e link. a spring pressing 13c '66 means throughwhich the link is slidable for engagement by the collar to prevent the slidable said bars having .angularupper ends for' limiting their movement in the bearings, a rock shaft journaledbetween the the jaws together, and means for moving the levers apart. I

' 3'. The combination with the car body and I the fixed sltl eps thereof, of an auxiliary ste below the xd steps, a'bar secured to eac end. of the said step,- bearings on the side platespf the fixed steps in which the bars are side plates and provided at one end with a link connecting the arm with the auxiliar step, a link pivoted to "the'qrank and sli qthe lower face beveled, andmeans, throu h which the link is slidable for engagement y thecollar to prevent the upward movement fthereof, said means comprising a pair of recessed jaws through which thelink is slid able, a spring pressing the jaws together, and means for releasing the jaws. 4. The combination with the car body and the fixed. steps thereof, of anauxiliary ste below the fixed steps, a bar secured to eac end of the said step, bearings on the side platesof the fixed steps in which the bars are -slidable, 'said bars having angular upper ends for limiting their movement in the bearings, a rock shaft journaled between the thereof, 1 a j 5. The combination with the car body and the fixed steps thereof, of an auxiliary step side p ates and provided at one end with a crank'and at-its center with a rigid arm, a link connecting the arm with the "auxiliary step, a link plvoted to, the crank and slid- 'able through the platform of the car, a lever pivoted on the car and connected with the upper end of the link, said link having an inte ral collar,

whose upper face is flat and the lower face beveled, and means throu h which the link is slidable for engagement y prevent the upward movement the collar to below the fixed steps,v a sliding connection between the'auxilia ment of the auxiliary step, a rock shaft j ournaled. between the side plates and provided at one end with a crank and at its center.

. a with a arm, a link connecting the armcrank-and slidab e through the platform of with the auxiliar step, a linkpivoted to the the car, alever pivoted on the car and conueeted with the-upper end of the link, said link having an inte alcollar, whose upper face is flat'and the other face-beveled, and

upward movement thereof;

' 6. The combination with the car'body mid stepand the" fixed steps, means for limitmg the outward m'oveep; which t lar whose lower face is inclined and. the

the fixed steps thereof, of an auxiliary step below the fixed steps, asliding connection between the auxiliary step and the fixed steps, means for limiting the outward movement of the auxiliary step, a rock shaft journaled on'the fixed steps and provided at one end with acrank and at its center with a rigid arm, a connection between the arm and the auxiliary step, a linkconnected to the crank'arm and slidable through the platform, means on'the car body and connected with the link for moving the samevertically, and means through which the link is slidabl'e for. retaining it in lowered position, said means. comprising spring pressed recessed f jaws forreceiving the link, said link'having a collar with a flat upper face and a beveled lower face for engagement by the jaws, and means for separating the jaws.

7. The combination with the car body and the fixed steps thereof, of an auxiliary step below the fixed steps, a sliding connection f between the auxiliary step andthe fixed steps, means for limiting. the outward movement of the auxiliary step, a rock'shaft journaled on the fixed steps and provided at one end with a crank and at its center with a rigid arm, a connection between the arm' and the auxiliary step, a link' connected to the crank arm and slidable throughthe plat form, means on the car body and connected with the link for moving the same vertically,

andj means through which the link isslidable for retaining it 1n lowered, position, saidmeanscomprising spring ressedjrecessed jaws for receiving the "lin ,saiddihk having. a collar with a Hat upperface. and a beveled lower face for engagement by the j aws.

8. auxiliary step,- a longitudinally. movable link In a device'of the class described an connected therewith for moving-the step, a "1 vpair of sprin pressed recessed aws'through.

which the lin slides, Said link having a 00l- Iar .whose one faceis inclined-and the other flat, for thepurpese set forth. .j

9. Ina device -of theclass described, an;

auxiliary step, a. longitudinally movable 1 link connectedtherewith-fon'moving the pair of springpress'ed jaws between 'e link slides, said linkhaving a col other flat for the purpose specified,

' 10. In a device of the-class described, an;

auxiliary step, a longitudinally movable link connected therewith for moving the step, a.

pair of spring pressed gripping jaws through which the link slides, and means in connection with themep i OLIVE. R DALY- one of the jaws for moving a Witnesses:

Soo'rr CU MINGS; F. T.- Pn'nxms. 

